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SMERTIN EXPLAINS CARDIFF SNUB
Smertin - not interested.
Former Fulham midfielder Alexei Smertin says he turned down a late move to Cardiff because life in the Championship did not appeal to him.
The Bluebirds were keen to take the 33-year-old on a season-long loan but the Russian midfielder instead decided to cancel his contract with the Cottagers and head back to his home country.
"Frankly speaking I found out about the Cardiff City option only on September 1 from my friends," Smertin told the South Wales Echo.
"The local newspapers also wrote that I could be sent on loan to the Welsh side. Even if I'd had time to look at the details of the move, and I was only given these at the last minute, I would still have refused.
"The idea of spending the season in the Championship doesn't interest me at all."
